Salt and pepper shaker



March 3, 1959 A.1. N. SMITH v v 2,875,925 SALT .AND PEPPER SHAKER Filed July 1.9, 1957 INVENTOR.

JOSEPHv I N. SMITH United States Patent O SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER Joseph N. Smith, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of thirty percent to Nathaniel H. Banks, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 19', 1957, serial No. 673,046

z claims. (ci. zzz-39) This invention relates to condiment holders and particularly concerns a device for containing two different condiments in the same receptacle and arranged to permit dispensing of one condiment or the other or both simultaneously.

A principal object is to provide a salt and pepper shaker of the character described which is formed mainly of molded plastic material, which is of simple structure, durable and inexpensive.

Another object is to provide a container for condiments with plural compartments, the container having an exteriorly liuted surface for ease in handling the container.

The container according to the invention may be provided with means for signaling when the condiments in the several compartments are substantially exhausted therefrom.

lFor further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is an oblique elevational view of a shaker ernbodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the shaker.

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan sectional views taken on lines 4-4 and 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modification of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View of a portion of the modified form of shaker.

Referring to Figs. 1 5, there is shown a cylindrical tube 10. The tube is formed of a synthetic plastic material. The exterior of the tube is formed with vertical fluting 11 to facilitate gripping and handling of the container by the user. The tube has an open bottom end which is closed by a removable cup or cap 12 which fits snugly on the tube. Longitudinally disposed in the tube is a partition 14 which extends the full length of the tube. This partition divides the tube into a pair of compartments A and B. The partition is located off-center of the tube so that the compartments are of unequal size. Thus, one compartment may be filled with a condiment such as salt, which is used in greater quantity and with greater frequency, while the other compartment contains a smaller quantity of a less used condiment such as pepper.

Secured to or integrally formed on the open 'top of the tube is a fixed circular disk or plate 15. This disk has two sets of holes 16 and 18. Holes 16 may be made smaller and holes 18 may be made larger. The smaller holes will pass pepper in pulverized form while the larger holes will pass salt in larger grain form. Another disk or plate 20 is rotatably mounted on top of disk 15.

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This disk is preferably formed of transparent plastic material. The disk 20 is integrally formed with a depending tongue 21 by means of which the disk is rotated. A headed pin 22 is inserted through an aperture in disk 20 and is fixed in disk 15 so that the disk 20 is rotatably mounted.

A pair of spaced apertures 24 and 25 are located in disk 20. These apertures are arranged so that the disk 20 can berotated to positions where either holes 16 or 18 are separately uncovered or where all or several of holes 16 and 18 are simultaneously uncovered. Another ho1e.26 is provided in disk 15 above compartment B so that a maximum opening or passage is provided from compartment B to the exterior of the con tainer when one of apertures 24 or 25 overlies hole 26.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, signaling devices such as small bells 2S, 29 having strikers 30 are attached to partition 14 close to plate 1S.

The compartments will generally be filled with desired condiments. The transparency of the top plate 20 facilitates locating the apertures 24, 25 so that they uncover the desired holes in plate 15 to dispense condiments either from compartment A or B or from both compartments simultaneously. The plate 20 is rotated by means of finger pressure on tongue 2l. When the container is inverted the condiments are dispensed from the container.

When the container shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is filled, the bells 28, 29 will normally be muffled by the condiments in the compartments. When the condiment is almost exhausted from either compartment, the bell in that compartment will be free to ring as the container is shaken to dispense a condiment therefrom. This will provide a signal that the compartment needs refilling.

To reach the compartment for filling, cap 12 is re moved and is replaced after the empty compartment is filled.

The structure of the container is simple and durable and its plastic construction enables it to be manufactured by mass production methods at low cost.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and medications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A condiment holder having a cylindrical tubular.- body, the exterior of said body being longitudinally tinted, a partition longitudinally disposed in the body dividing the interior into a pair of compartments, one of said compartments being larger than the other, a cylindrical cap removably disposed on the open bottom of said body, the cylindrical interior of said cap frictionally gripping the fluted exterior of the cylindrical body, a flat circular plate formed on the top end of said body, said plate having two sets of closely spaced apertures therein, the respective sets of apertures being disposed over the respective compartments, a circular disk rotatably mounted on a pin over said plate, said pin being centrally fixed in said plate, said disk having a lateral depending integral tongue to facilitate rotation of the disk on the plate, said disk having twoapertures arranged to selectively expose desired apertures in the plate, said tubular body being formed of plastic material, said disk being formed of transparent material, and a signaling device located on the partition in each compartment and arranged to signal when the compartment is substantially emptied of said condiment, said signalling device being operative when the holder is shaken manually.

2. A condiment holder having a cylindrical tubular body, the exterior of said body being longitudinally iluted, a partition longitudinally disposed in the body dividing `the interior into a pair of compartments, one of said compartments being larger than the other, a cylindrical cap removably disposed on the open bottom of said body, the cylindrical interior of said cap frictionally gripping the uted exterior of the cylindrical body, a flat circular plate formed on the top end of said body, said plate having two sets of closely spaced apertures therein, the 10 respective sets of apertures being disposed over the respective compartments, a circular disk rotatably mounted 'on a pin over said plate, said pin being centrally xed in said plate, said disk having a lateral depending integral tongue to facilitate rotation of the disk on the plate, said 15 2,358,913

disk having two apertures arranged to selectively expose desired apertures in the plate, said tubular body being formed of plastic material, said disk being formed of transparent material, and a bell located on the partition near said plate in each compartment and arranged to signal when the compartment is substantially emptied of said condiment, said bell being :operative when the holder is shaken manually.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 454,601 Perkhurst June 23, 1891 1,537,782 Olson May 12, 1925 Dobkin Sept. 26, 1944 

